ABIDJAN, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Ivory Coast's cocoa

grind fell 0.2% year-on-year in January to 63,225 metric tons,

data from exporter association GEPEX showed on Thursday.

The total grind from the start of the 2024/25 season in

October stood at 245,549 tons of beans by the end of January, up

0.7% from the same period last season.

The GEPEX data covers six of the largest grinding companies,

including Barry Callebaut, Olam and Cargill

Inc.

Ivory Coast has a total grinding capacity of 712,000 tons.

It is the world's top cocoa producer and vies with the

Netherlands as the leading grinder.